The debate over the ancestral roots of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has intensified in Ogun State as political actors continue to scrutinise his eligibility ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Some opposition voices have questioned Adeola’s indigeneship, alleging that his paternal roots are linked to Ekiti State rather than Ogun West. However, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Asiwaju Kunle Kalejaye, has argued that ancestry or paternal lineage does not constitute a constitutional qualification for contesting the office of governor.
In a legal position on the controversy, Kalejaye said the constitutional requirements for governorship candidates are clearly set out in Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution.
The provision states that a person seeking election as governor must be a Nigerian citizen by birth, be at least 35 years old, belong to and be sponsored by a political party, and possess at least a School Certificate or its equivalent.
Kalejaye argued that the provision does not list indigeneship or proof of paternal ancestry among the requirements.
According to him, the attempt to make ancestral origin a condition for eligibility amounts to introducing an additional qualification not contained in the Constitution.
He further cited constitutional protections against discrimination based on community or place of origin, arguing that Nigeria’s constitutional framework recognises citizenship beyond narrow ethnic or ancestral considerations.
The SAN also referred to previous judicial decisions on indigeneship and discrimination, including Uzoukwu v. Ezeonu II (1991) and Alahassan & Anor v. Ishaku & Ors (2016), as part of his argument that constitutional qualifications should guide eligibility for elective office.
He maintained that questions surrounding Adeola’s ancestry could become part of political debate, but should not automatically translate into constitutional disqualification.
Kalejaye further argued that Section 318(1) of the Constitution provides a broad framework for determining belonging to a community, including circumstances involving the birth of an individual, parent or grandparent within a particular territory.
He said the controversy surrounding Adeola reflects a recurring feature of Ogun State politics, where questions about the origins of major political contenders have emerged around election periods.
According to him, similar debates had surrounded past governorship contests involving former governors Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel, Ibikunle Amosun and the incumbent, Dapo Abiodun.
Kalejaye described the continued emphasis on ancestry as a distraction from substantive political issues, arguing that attention should instead focus on candidates’ records, policies, integrity, capacity and plans for governance.
He said the broader question raised by the controversy was whether political contests should be determined by ancestral identity or by constitutional eligibility and the choice of voters.
“Rather than fracturing the electorate along primordial lines, Ogun State stands to gain immensely from embracing an open contest anchored strictly on merit, capacity, integrity and credibility,” he said.
Kalejaye concluded that the ultimate decision should rest with the electorate, rather than attempts to use questions of ancestry as an informal barrier to political participation.
